North Dakota pregnant woman is state’s 1st Zika case

The North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) recently received confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that a woman who traveled to Puerto Rico while pregnant has tested positive for Zika virus. While Zika is associated with microcephaly and other birth defects, none have been identified in the infant. As a precaution, the NDDoH plans to monitor the infant for a year. The woman is the first North Dakota resident to test positive for Zika.

Zika virus is spread primarily through the bite of an Aedes species mosquito. It can be passed from an infected mother to her fetus. In addition, the virus can be transmitted sexually from a man to his sex partners. To prevent the spread of Zika to sex partners, the NDDoH recommends the following:

• Men returning from Zika affected areas who have a sexual partner that is pregnant should either abstain from sexual activity or correctly and consistently use condoms for all sexual contact for the duration of the pregnancy

• Men diagnosed with Zika or who had symptoms of Zika after returning from a Zika affected area who have non-pregnant sexual partners should consider abstaining from or correctly and consistently using condoms for all sexual contact for at least six months after symptoms began

• Men who did not develop symptoms of Zika after returning from Zika affected areas who have non-pregnant sexual partners should consider abstaining from or correctly and consistently using condoms for all sexual contact for at least eight weeks after their return.

“The mosquitoes in North Dakota do not spread Zika virus, so our prevention efforts are focused on raising awareness about the risk of travel-associated and sexually transmitted Zika virus infections,” said Laura Cronquist, epidemiologist with the NDDoH.

Many diseases, including Zika, dengue fever and yellow fever, can be transmitted by mosquitoes. All travelers should protect themselves from mosquito bites in the same way they would at home, and by following the recommendations at www.cdc.gov/zika/prevention.

After returning from Zika affected areas, the NDDoH has the following additional recommendations:

• Pregnant women should consult their health care provider and seek testing for Zika virus between two and 12 weeks after returning from a Zika affected area

• All travelers should consult their health care provider if they develop illness, such as sudden onset of fever, rash, conjunctivitis (red eyes), joint pain, muscle soreness or pain, or headache, within 14 days of returning from Zika affected areas

• Avoid getting additional bites from other mosquitos during the first week of illness to help spread transmission

• Even if they do not feel sick, travelers returning to the United States from an area with Zika should take steps to prevent mosquito bites for three weeks following their return